He looks to duplicate that success when Minnesota begins a four-game road trip against the Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

Coming into this season, Chouinard had just 27 goals in 216 games with Minnesota and the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. In the season opener on Oct. 5 against Calgary, however, he recorded his first career hat trick in a 6-3 victory.

Chouinard has been limited to three goals in 11 games since, but is already more than halfway to his career high of 11 goals he set in 2003-04.

The six goals Minnesota scored against Calgary was matched two weeks later in a 6-1 win over San Jose. Since then, however, the Wild has reverted to their defensive ways, scoring 10 goals in five games since they beat the Sharks.

Minnesota snapped a three-game skid Saturday with a 3-1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets behind two goals from Todd White.

"This is exactly how I want them to play," Wild coach Jacques Lemaire said. "I know I can't get that for 80 games, but as much as I can get, that's what I want. Even if we would've lost, to me it would have been a positive because I saw 20 guys work."

After a poor road trip, the Flames will be glad to face the Wild at home. Calgary is 5-1-3 in its last nine home games against Minnesota, although it has outscored the Wild by only a 21-18 margin.

The Flames ended their trip Saturday with a 3-2 loss in a shootout to San Jose, their fourth defeat in five games.

Three of the four losses came by one goal.

"This game was identical to every game we've had on the road trip," Flames coach Darryl Sutter said.

One of the bright spots for the defending Western Conference champions continues to be Jarome Iginla, who has three goals and three assists during a six-game points streak. He has failed to record a point in just two of Calgary's first 13 games this season.